Jump To:

• goodman
  goodman

  noun

  the master of a household; husband.
• Goodman
  Goodman

  noun

  Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

goodman

¹ American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

Archaic.

• goodmen
  plural

1. the master of a household; husband.

2. (initial capital letter) a title of respect used for a man below the rank of gentleman, especially a farmer or yeoman.

---

Goodman ² American  

[good-muhn] / ˈgʊd mən /

noun

1. Benjamin David Benny, 1909–86, U.S. jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

---

goodman ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. a husband

2. a man not of gentle birth: used as a title

3. a master of a household

---

Goodman ² British  

/ ˈɡʊdmən /

noun

1. Benny, full name Benjamin David Goodman. 1909–86, US jazz clarinetist and bandleader, whose treatment of popular songs created the jazz idiom known as swing

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• goodmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of goodman

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goodman Goodman goodmen

As the clocks tolled one, there was a sound of rapid wheels along the road and a coach stopped before goodman Blossom's.

From A Maid of Many Moods by Virna Sheard

Judith did not stay to regard them further; but she could not help casting a look before she left at goodman Matthew, who stood there discomfited, dispossessed, unheeded, annihilated, as it were.

From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by William Black

Mary Howitt, in her poem, The Poor Man's Garden, has this verse:— "And here on Sabbath mornings The goodman comes to get His Sunday nosegay—Moss Rose bud, White Pink, and Mignonette."

From Old-Time Gardens Newly Set Forth by Alice Morse Earle

Why, I tell thee I cannot have the garden left so empty; wouldst have me with none to talk with but goodman Matthew?

From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by William Black

Bell, my wife, she loves not strife, Yet she will lead me if she can; And oft, to live a quiet life, I'm forced to yield, though I'm goodman.

From Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2) A Legend of St. Inigoe's by John P. Kennedy

Soon, the fun fan shot was replaced by one of those grim before-and-after shots: An obese Goodman in his 30s and the slimmer Goodman in his 70s.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

“For us, it’s really about making sure everyone in Cox’s and Charter’s service territory benefits from this transaction,” said Paul Goodman, counsel for the Berkeley-based Center for Accessible Technology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

“In a rare way, she has both taste and judgment and passion for literature—but also an eye on the market,” says novelist Allegra Goodman, who has published three books with Frick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The Liuzzo, Dahmer, and Goodman families know this all too well.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Mrs. Goodman was leaning on the red Coca-Cola box.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Ho, Phyllis and Kate and bonny Nell Come hither, and buffet the goodmen well, An they gather not for hall and hearth, Fair bays to grace the evening mirth.

From In The Yule-Log Glow—Book 3 Christmas Poems from 'round the World by Harrison S. (Harrison Smith) Morris

So we scattered and covered ourselves with the oak-boles, but besides Iron-shield, who was slain outright, two goodmen were sorely hurt, to wit Bald-face, a man of our house, and Stonyford of the Lower Dale.

From The Roots of the Mountains; Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale by William Morris

Sad-colored mantles the goodmen wore, but their doublets were scarlet, and with their green waistcoats and red caps, surely the Puritan men were sufficiently gayly dressed to suit any fancy save that of a cavalier.

From Sabbath in Puritan New England by Alice Morse Earle

But when they came to the gate of the Thorp, there were assembled the goodmen and swains to meet them with torches and wine in their honour. 

From The Roots of the Mountains; Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale by William Morris

Saw the Westmilne house, the goodmen wheirof ware Boswels.

From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Lord John Lauder Fountainhall

Related Words

• head of the house
• householder